"Coach," "Ron," "Ronnie," "Dad," and "Papa" was an intense man, loved by many. He was the only child of George and Maxine Bolin, who raised him in Tracy, California. A natural athlete, Ron was a star basketball player, football quarterback, and baseball pitcher. He loved athletics and became a Physical Education teacher after earning his degree at San Francisco State University, where he also earned his Master's.
Ron became a teacher and coach at Aragon High School in San Mateo, California in 1963. He taught for 35 years, calling on his kids to hustle and give it their all. He actually started his career as a Driver's Education Instructor, which explains his adamant critiques of all other drivers on the road. Ron also coached baseball and golf, but his true love was basketball.
Ron coached Aragon High School's Basketball team from the 1979-80 season through the 1996-97 season. He won numerous league titles most notably, the 1990 and 1994 Central Coast Section titles. He loved to strategize, creating and replicating fast-paced offenses that made Aragon Basketball the show to see. He was an early pioneer of the run and gun, three point offense now so popular in the NBA. Ron and his partner in coaching, Lou Murgo, coached hundreds of kids to be their best, a number of whom went on to play basketball in college. Ron was proud of the successes of all his players.
Ron was married to Jerina "Jeri" Bolin for nearly 57 years. The two met at a funeral that Jeri's dad made her attend. Ron and Jeri shared a love of travel. They went to Africa twice, Europe several times, lived in Barcelona for a month, hiked Machu Pichu, trekked the rainforests of Costa Rica, and drove across the U.S. in an brand new 1963 Mustang to highlight a few adventures. Ron was natural trip planner and had a side gig for awhile as a travel agent.
Ron and Jeri took in two foster children before they adopted their first daughter, Jennay. Then they had a second daughter, Courtney. Both girls attended Aragon High School. Jennay did not appreciate the oversight, but Courtney enjoyed the easy access to a source of lunch money. The family enjoyed numerous adventures such as backpacking in Yosemite and Point Reyes, driving up the western coast of the U.S. to Expo '86 in Canada, a Disney Cruise in the Caribbean, and road tripping through Yellowstone and the East Coast. Ron's mother, Maxine, joined the family on several adventures with Ron's encouragement.
After retirement, Ron enjoyed singing in a choir, more travel and became an excellent golfer. He never quite shot his age, but he was close. He also spread his love of adventure to his grandchildren. Courtney has three children, Avalon, Dylan, and Carys, with her husband, Antony Nash. Ron often said spending a month taking care of Avalon in Barcelona while Courtney was studying abroad in Spain while in law school was one of his favorite experiences. He also took Avalon and Dylan on a Yellowstone adventure they will never forget. Carys also enjoyed many local trips with Nana and Papa, where they fed her too much ice cream.
Jennay had twin boys Victor and Vincent Garcia. Sadly, Victor died in infancy. However, Vincent, or Vinny, as he was affectionately called, was essentially raised by Ron and Jeri. Ron loved Vinny dearly. Vinny was a natural athlete and Ron thoroughly enjoyed supporting him in all his sporting endeavors. It crushed Ron when Vinny tragically died in a house fire at the age of 16, shortly after going to live with his mother.
After Vinny's passing, Ron and Jeri moved from Rancho Murieta where they had retired with a number of good friends and former teachers from Aragon, to Menifee. The plan was to be closer to the remaining grandchildren in their later years. Unfortunately, Ron's health failed him fairly quickly. He had a series of strokes that impaired his speech and movement.
Ron was a fighter to the end. After his second stroke he vowed he would walk out of the skilled nursing facility by his 80th birthday a month later, and he did...he practically ran with the walker and immediately went out for his favorite breakfast of grits and eggs. However, after additional strokes he was not able to leave skilled nursing care. He never gave up and held out hope of returning to the pastimes he enjoyed in later life, watching sports, listening to music, and spending time with his dog Elvis.
"Coach," "Ron," "Ronnie," "Dad," and "Papa" will be missed by his wife Jeri, daughters Courtney Bolin Nash, and Jennay Garcia, grandchildren Avalon Nash, Dylan Nash, and Carys Nash, as well as numerous friends, former students, and athletes whose lives he made better.